House Urges Congress to Reauthorize Rural School Timber Receipts Act

(Juneau) - The Alaska House of Representatives today unanimously passed a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools & Communities Self-Determination Act of 2000, which the measure's sponsor says provides a lifeline to the schools across Southeast Alaska.

These payments, which we called timber receipts before the new act, are critical to fund our schools and roads.~ Rep. Peggy Wilson

House Joint Resolution 24, sponsored by Majority Whip Peggy Wilson, R-Wrangell, asks for the decade-old act to be continued, which stands to taper-off over the next five years, leaving a gap in funding Whip Wilson says would be devastating to the area schools.

"These payments, which we called timber receipts before the new act, are critical to fund our schools and roads," Wilson said. "Reauthorizing the act is in the 2012 budget before congress, but Alaska needs to send a strong message to the President to continue this program that helps fund education without the five-year tapering. That's $16 million last year for schools and roads alone in the current fiscal year."

The timber receipts amounted to more during the region's thriving timber harvests in the 1980s and 90s. Currently, 42 states plus Puerto Rice take advantage of the 2000 Act.